2016 BMW 340i xDrive: Monthly Update for March

by Ed Hellwig, Senior Editor

Where Did We Drive It?
Daily commuting and a weekend road trip made up the bulk of our 2016 BMW 340i's time on the road in March. It's a common mix for a lot of 3 Series owners, we suspect, and this sport sedan handles mundane commutes through the city as well as it does a winding mountain road. It also delivers pretty impressive mileage figures, making it well suited to daily driver duty.

It wasn't all traffic and potholes, however, as one staffer snagged the sedan for a weekend golf trip. It put into perspective how much trunk space the 3 Series has available versus its larger 5 Series sibling. Let's just say that the 3 Series has its limitations.

What Kind of Fuel Economy Did It Get

We added only about 500 miles to our 340i xDrive in March. As such, our lifetime average and best fill-up remain unchanged from last month.

Interior
"I'd describe the current 3 Series' rear passenger space as just enough. Having adjusted the driver seat for my long-legged self, I was able to sit behind that seat with adequate legroom and headroom. The only issue was footroom during ingress/egress; I had to turn my feet sideways to make it work. But to me, that's fine for this segment. In other words, please, BMW, don't make the next 3 Series any bigger than this one." — Josh Sadlier, Content Strategist

Cargo Space
"I expected more golf-bag-friendliness from this generously proportioned 3 Series. Two lightweight bags barely fit in the trunk, and we had to take the driver out of one of them. Maybe there's a better way to Tetris them in there, but given that this 3 Series approximates the size of 5 Series past, I figured a couple of bags would be a breeze. Not so much." — Josh Sadlier

MPG
"I continue to be smitten with the fuel efficiency and range this powertrain provides. On my current fill I've covered about 315 miles in a variety of conditions, including a lot of stop-and-go, and I've got a quarter-tank remaining with 29 mpg showing on the trip computer. You'll recall that this is a conservatively rated 320-horsepower AWD beast that does zero to 60 in the mid-4s. BMW has unlocked a new level here. I don't love the engine's character, but I'm astonished by everything else." — Josh Sadlier

Miscellaneous
"Noticed one of those distinctive run-flat bulges in the driver-side front tire's sidewall. No palpable vibration at speed; this was a visual ID while positioning the front wheels for a photo shoot. Something to take care of in the near future."— Josh Sadlier